Egyptian goose

The Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) is an African member of the duck family Anatidae. Because of their popularity chiefly as an ornamental bird, the species has also been introduced to Europe, United States and elsewhere outside their natural range.[2][3][4] Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork.

Egyptian goose
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Alopochen
Species:
A. aegyptiaca
Binomial name
Alopochen aegyptiaca
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Native range of A. aegyptiaca
Synonyms

Anas aegyptiaca Linnaeus, 1766

Taxonomy

The Egyptian goose is believed to be most closely related to the shelducks (genus Tadorna) and their relatives, and is placed with them in the subfamily Tadorninae. It is the only extant member of the genus Alopochen, which also contains closely related prehistoric and recently extinct species. mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data suggest that the relationships of Alopochen to Tadorna need further investigation.[5]

Etymology

The generic name Alopochen (literally, fox-goose) is based on Greek ἀλωπός (alōpós, also ἀλώπηξ alōpēx), "fox", and χήν (chēn) "goose", referring to the ruddy colour of its back. The word χήν : chēn is grammatically of either masculine or feminine gender.

The species name aegyptiacus (or aegyptiaca) is from the Latin Aegyptiacus, "Egyptian".[6]

Description
Adult and goslings

It swims well and in flight looks heavy, more like a goose than a duck, hence the English name.[7] It is 63–73 cm (25–29 in) long.

The sexes of this species are identical in plumage but the males average slightly larger. There is a fair amount of variation in plumage tone, with some birds greyer and others browner, but this is not sex- or age-related. A large part of the wings of mature birds is white, but in repose the white is hidden by the wing coverts. When it is aroused, either in alarm or aggression, the white begins to show. In flight or when the wings are fully spread in aggression, the white is conspicuous.[8]

The voices and vocalisations of the sexes differ, the male having a hoarse, subdued duck-like quack which seldom sounds unless it is aroused, as well as a louder, breathy call which is performed in a rapid sequence, sounding somewhat like a steam engine.[9] The male Egyptian goose attracts its mate with an elaborate, noisy courtship display that includes honking, neck stretching and feather displays.[10] The female has a far noisier raucous quack that frequently sounds in aggression and almost incessantly at the slightest disturbance when tending her young.[11]

Distribution

The Egyptian goose is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile Valley, where it is widespread and common to abundant,[12] though it has become scarce in the northern Nile Valley where now mainly a visitor.[13] It is found in open or semi-open habitats, typically near fresh water, ranging from lowlands to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) above sea level in the Ethiopian Highlands, being absent mainly from dense forests and deserts.[8][12] While not breeding, it disperses somewhat, sometimes making longer migrations northwards into the arid regions of the Sahel, and occasionally even reaching the North African nations of Algeria and Tunisia,[8][12] which historically were a more regular part of its range.[13]

It also occurred naturally in southeastern Europe (up to the lower Danube Valley and southern Hungary) until the early 1700s, and in parts of Turkey and the western Middle East until the early 1900s (where since re-established through escaped captives), but its historical ranges in these places is incompletely known and the reason for the disappearances is also unknown.[12][13][14]

United Kingdom

The British populations of the Egptian goose date back to the 17th century when it was introduced to estates and parks,[4][15] though the species was only formally added to the British bird list in 1971.[16] The British introductions were the first outside its native range; however, these did not spread widely and are not known to have expanded into other countries.[4][15] In Great Britain, it is found mainly in East Anglia, and in various locations along the River Thames,[17][18] where it breeds at sites with open water, short grass and suitable nesting locations (either islands, holes in old trees or amongst epicormic shoots on old trees). During the winter, they are widely dispersed within river valleys, where they feed on short grass and cereals.[19][20] In the United Kingdom in 2009, it was officially declared a non-native species. Accordingly, Egyptian geese in Great Britain may be shot without special permission if they cause problems.[21]

Mainland Europe

The Egyptian goose was first introduced to the Netherlands in 1967 and to Belgium in 1982, and these formed the basis for the population in mainland Europe, likely supplemented by some captive escapees from other European countries.[4][15] From these two countries, the species has experienced a relatively fast range expansion into adjacent countries, first spreading into Germany and France (where possibly supplemented by local escapees) in the mid-1980s, and then to the Czech Republic, Denmark, Luxembourg and Switzerland in the early 2000s.[4][15][22] Further observations, sometimes also involving isolated cases of breeding, have been made in Austria, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and elsewhere in mainland Europe, but it is (as of 2020) not yet known to have become established in those countries.[4][15]

Because of its aggressiveness towards other birds, it may reduce or displace native species,[4][22] and since 2017 the Egyptian goose has been listed as an invasive species in the European Union.[23] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, used, exchanged or intentionally released into the environment and member states are obliged to try to eradicate the species.[24]

Elsewhere

In addition to Europe, the Egyptian goose has been introduced and established breeding populations in Mauritius, Israel (historically a natural part of its range, see Distribution), the United Arab Emirates and the United States.[4] In the US, breeding populations are known from Arkansas, California, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, with occasional reports of the species elsewhere.[25][26][27] Although the Egyptian goose was introduced to Australia and New Zealand, it did not become established in these countries.[27]

Behaviour

This is a largely terrestrial species, which will also perch readily on trees and buildings. Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses and plant stems. Occasionally, they will eat locusts, worms, or other small animals. Until the goslings are a few weeks old and strong enough to graze, they feed largely on small aquatic invertebrates, especially freshwater plankton. As a result, if anoxic conditions lead to the production of botulinum toxin and it gets passed up the food chain via worms and insect larvae insensitive to the toxin, entire clutches of goslings feeding on such prey may die. The parents, who do not eat such organisms to any significant extent, generally remain unaffected.

Both sexes are aggressively territorial towards their own species when breeding and frequently pursue intruders into the air, attacking them in aerial "dogfights".[11] Egyptian geese have been observed attacking aerial objects such as drones that enter their habitat as well. Neighbouring pairs may even kill another's offspring for their own offsprings' survival, as well as for more resources.[28]

This species will nest in a large variety of situations, especially in holes in mature trees in parkland. The female builds the nest from reeds, leaves and grass and both parents take turns incubating the eggs.[10] Egyptian geese usually pair for life. Both the male and female care for the offspring until they are old enough to care for themselves.[28] Such parental care, however, does not include foraging for the young, who, being precocial, forage for themselves.

In their native range, predators of Egyptian geese include leopards,[29] lions, cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles and Old World vultures.[30]

  • Gosling
    Gosling
  • Goslings
    Goslings
  • Female from the front
    Female from the front
  • Male (left) herding one of his females (right)
    Male (left) herding one of his females (right)
  • Immature birds
    Immature birds
  • Subadult
    Subadult
  • In flight
    In flight
  • Head
    Head
  • Front
    Front
  • Alopochen aegyptiacus eggs
    Alopochen aegyptiacus eggs
  • Egyptian geese in Gauteng, South Africa
    Egyptian geese in Gauteng, South Africa

References
  1. BirdLife International (2018). "Alopochen aegyptiaca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22679993A131910647. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679993A131910647.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. Dohner, Janet V. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139.
  3. Braun, D.G. (2004). "First documented nesting in the wild of Egyptian Geese in Florida" (PDF). Florida Field Naturalist. 32 (4): 138–143. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  4. Huysentruyt, F.; Callahan, C.T.; Stubbe, D.; Winston, K.; Adriaens, T.; Brooks, D.M. (2020). "Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegypticaca, Linnaeus, 1766)". In Downs, C.T.; L.A. Hart (eds.). Invasive Birds: Global Trends and Impacts. CABI International. pp. 206–212. ISBN 978-1-78924-206-5.
  5. Sraml, M.; Christidis, L.; Easteal, S.; Horn, P.; Collet, C. (1996). "Molecular Relationships Within Australasian Waterfowl (Anseriformes)". Australian Journal of Zoology. 44 (1): 47–58. doi:10.1071/ZO9960047.
  6. Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 33, 42. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  7. "What characteristics distinguish Egyptian Geese?". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
  8. Madge, Steve; Burn, Hilary (1988). Waterfowl: An Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-0-395-46727-5.
  9. "Egyptian Goose - Nord University Bird ID".
  10. "Egyptian Goose Fact Sheet". Lincoln Park Zoo. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
  11. MacLean, Gordon L.; Roberts, Austin (1988). Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. Hyperion Books. ISBN 978-1-85368-037-3.
  12. Carboneras, C. (1992). "Egyptian Goose". In del Hoyo, J.; A. Elliott; J. Sargatal (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. I. Lynx Edicions. p. 589. ISBN 84-87334-10-5.
  13. Gyimesi, A.; Lensink, R. (30 September 2010). "Risk analysis of the Egyptian Goose in the Netherlands" (PDF). Bureau Waardenburg bv. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  14. Marchant, J. (31 August 2008). "Alopochen aegyptiaca (Egyptian goose)". CABI Digital Library. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  15. Gyimesi, A.; Lensink, R. (2012). "Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca: an introduced species spreading in and from the Netherlands". Wildfowl. 62: 128–145.
  16. Holloway, Simon (2010). The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875-1900. A & C Black. ISBN 9781408128664.
  17. "Specieswatch: Egyptian goose". the Guardian. 2014-05-25. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  18. "Illuminated River's New Sacred Friends". Illuminated River. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  19. Sutherland, W. J.; Allport, G. (1991-07-01). "The distribution and ecology of naturalized Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiacus in Britain". Bird Study. 38 (2): 128–134. doi:10.1080/00063659109477080. ISSN 0006-3657.
  20. "Egyptian goose". RSPB. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  21. McCarthy, Michael (30 September 2009). "Britain's naturalised parrot now officially a pest". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  22. Mazurska, K.; Solarz, W. (2016). "Risk Assessment of Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiacus" (PDF). European Union. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  23. "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  24. "REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species". Archived from the original on 2017-03-03.
  25. "Egyptian Goose". Audubon. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  26. Clark, Gary (2011-11-04). "Non-native Egyptian geese proliferating in Texas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  27. Chesbro, C. (2015). Distribution of the Egyptian Goose (Alopochen Aegyptiacus) in Northwestern Arkansas and in the United States of America (Thesis). University of Arkansas. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  28. "Egyptian Goose". Honolulu Zoo. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.
  29. "This goose feigns injury to save its chicks from a leopard". Animals. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  30. Tattan, Anna. "Alopochen aegyptiaca (Egyptian goose)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
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